Written by Cash Martin, TPPA Intern
The story of the Texas pork industry is built on many generations who have dedicated their lives to their farms and strengthening the foundation of agriculture for decades. From legacy producers to the young producers stepping into leadership roles today, each generation has carried forward a shared commitment to hard work, innovation, and integrity.
Together we are, and always will be, Texas Pork.
Vince and Caid Frankowiak – St. Hedwig, TX
For Vince and Caid Franckowiak of St. Hedwig, Texas, raising show pigs isn’t just a business; it’s a family tradition rooted in generations of hard work and passion. The Franckowiaks’ involvement in the swine industry dates back to the late 1930s and early 1940s, when Vince’s father and grandfather raised Durocs and Poland Chinas on the same farmland the family still operates on today.
Vince began showing pigs at a young age with two highly competitive ag teachers who pushed him to excel in the show ring. What began as showing market animals soon grew into raising their own gilts and setting the foundation for what has become a thriving show pig operation. His son, Caid, carried that same drive into his own showing career, competing from eighth grade through high school before attending Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. After college, Caid returned to the family farm, combining his love for competition with his passion for raising quality livestock.
Today, the Franckowiaks maintain around 125 sows and several gilts, including Crossbreds, Yorkshires, Hampshires, Spots, Berkshires, and Chesters, but Durocs remain their mainstay, with about 50 sows of the breed. Beyond breeding and selling show pigs, the family is dedicated to helping 4-H and FFA members with feeding, doctoring, and showmanship, continuing to support the next generation of exhibitors.
The Franckowiak family also owns and operates St. Hedwig Feed and Supply, a business they started from their garage nearly 40 years ago in 1985. What began as a way to support their growing herd has now become a staple in the community.
“You make lifelong friends and meet some really neat people, and it’s so rewarding in that aspect,” Vince said. For Caid, choosing to return to the farm was an easy decision; it’s a career that lets him grow alongside his family while continuing a legacy that’s in their blood.
Kotton West – Taft, TX
Raising show pigs has been his lifelong dream for high school senior Kotton Max West. Since starting his operation, KMAX Livestock, in 2014, Kotton has built a name for himself in the Texas show pig world through hard work, determination, and a passion for helping others. As a young breeder, he said that convincing others to buy pigs from someone his age can be challenging, but he’s learned that professionalism and confidence go a long way.
“It can be difficult to try and convince people to buy a pig from a 17-year-old kid,” Kotton said. “But the way you present yourself in those situations tells them a lot about who you are as a person.”
Over the years, Kotton’s dedication has led to impressive achievements. His show career started strong when he won Champion Chester at his very first major, San Angelo. In 2023, he raised the Champion Division I Yorkshire at the San Antonio Barrow Show, a milestone he considers his proudest moment as a young breeder. Guided by mentors like longtime ag teacher Jerry Howell, who taught him the ins and outs of breeding, and Luke Lindner, a role model since the State Fair of Texas in 2019, Kotton continues to grow both his skills and his herd.
For Kotton, the most rewarding part of raising pigs is helping kids his own age succeed with their projects. He credits his family and faith for his success and strives to inspire others who share his goals.
“Without my family and God, none of this would be possible,” Kotton said.
As a sixth-generation farmer, Kotton’s roots in agriculture run deep. His family has farmed in Taft for more than a century, raising grain, sorghum, cotton, and corn.
As he looks ahead to graduation, Kotton plans to continue his academic and livestock judging career at a junior college before transferring to Texas Tech University. Ultimately, he hopes to return home to expand his sow herd and carry on the family tradition.
“Come back to what raised you,” Kotton said. “It’s important for kids to come back and help their families continue the tradition. It’s my job, and future farmers’ jobs, to help our industry survive.”
Chuck Real – Marion, TX
For Chuck Real, the Texas pork industry has always been rooted in family, faith, and perseverance. Growing up on a diversified farm in Marion, Real’s passion for livestock began in 1964 when his brother bought a Berkshire gilt for $75, a purchase that launched a lifetime in hog farming.
“What started as a simple show project turned into a lifelong commitment to doing what’s right and producing quality livestock,” Chuck said.
Guided by lessons from family and local ag teachers, he built a respected Berkshire herd that endured droughts, economic shifts, and decades of change.
After teaching and serving as a county agent, Chuck returned home in 1978 to farm full-time, raising his children in the same tradition he grew up in.
“We got to raise our kids like we wanted to,” Chuck said. “I wouldn’t trade anything for it.”
A veteran of more than 60 years in the industry, including 43 as a director for the Texas Pork Producers Association, Real points to Texas’ strong youth programs through 4-H and FFA as key to the state’s success.
Chuck believes that winning is important, but it’s not everything. He said that how you win and how you do things is much more important. From his view, Texas stands apart for its unique blend of purebred and commercial producers and the people behind them.
“Hog barns have always been the place where I find the most genuine people,” Chuck said. “That’s what makes this industry special.”